Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 123

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

मातंग्यंताः प्रविन्यस्ये द्वामां ज्येष्ठमतः परम् । रौद्रीं प्रशांतां श्रद्धाख्यां पुनर्माहेश्वरीमथ ॥ १२३ ॥

Transliteration

mātaṃgyaṃtāḥ pravinyasye dvāmāṃ jyeṣṭhamataḥ param | raudrīṃ praśāṃtāṃ śraddhākhyāṃ punarmāheśvarīmatha || 123 ||

Translation

เมื่อจัดวางนยาสะตามลำดับจนถึงมาตังคีแล้ว จึงวางทวามา; ต่อด้วยเชษฐา แล้วราวทรี ต่อด้วยประศานตา ผู้มีนามว่า ศรัทธา และต่อไปวางมาเหศวรี

Word by Word

• मातङ्ग्यन्ताः: those ending with Mātaṅgī (i.e., from Mātaṅgī onward)
• मातङ्ग्यन्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मातङ्गी (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (तत्पुरुष: मातङ्ग्याः अन्ताः) Nominative plural; qualifies implied ‘(शक्तयः/देव्यः)’

• प्रविन्यस्य: having arranged/placed
• प्रविन्यस्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वि + न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) रूप; अव्ययभावे प्रयोगः; ‘having duly placed/arranged’

• ए: indeed/now (particle)
• ए: Sambodhana/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ए (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निर्देशार्थक/सम्बोधनार्थक निपात (particle)

• द्वामाम्: Dvāmā (name)
• द्वामाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• ज्येष्ठम्: the eldest/supreme
• ज्येष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular; used as adjective to implied ‘(पदम्/स्थानम्)’

• अतः: thereafter/from that
• अतः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/तस्मात्-अर्थ (ablatival adverb: ‘thereafter/from this’)

• परम्: next/further
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular; ‘next/further’

• रौद्रीम्: Raudrī (name)
• रौद्रीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रौद्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• प्रशान्ताम्: peaceful/appeased
• प्रशान्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रशान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular; qualifies a देवी-name

• श्रद्धा-आख्याम्: named ‘Śraddhā’
• श्रद्धा-आख्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (तत्पुरुष: श्रद्धा-आख्या ‘named Śraddhā’) Accusative singular

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• माहेश्वरीम्: Māheśvarī (name)
• माहेश्वरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहेश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• अथ: then/next
• अथ: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (sequencing particle)

Speaker

Narada (in an instructional/technical enumeration within the Vedanga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Mātaṅgī
• Dvāmā
• Jyeṣṭhā
• Raudrī
• Praśāntā
• Śraddhā
• Māheśvarī

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It emphasizes disciplined ritual order (krama) in mantra/śakti placement: spiritual power is approached through correct sequencing, moving from fierce (Raudrī) toward pacified (Praśāntā) and faith (Śraddhā), culminating in Māheśvarī.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Though technical, the inclusion of Śraddhā (faith) signals that successful practice is not merely mechanical—devotional trust supports and completes the ritual process.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A procedural, śāstra-style enumeration used in ritual application (nyāsa/krama), reflecting the technical method prized in Vedanga-aligned disciplines for correct placement and order.